The YMCA of Greater Rochester

Winner: 2008 AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50

The following wellness programs are offered to full- and part-time employees: flu shots, health screenings, health-risk appraisals, smoking cessation programs, health club discounts, physical activity and exercise programs, weight loss programs, and stress management training. One hundred percent of the YMCA employees have used at least one of its wellness benefits in the past 12 months.

The Walk the Talk initiative encourages employees to walk at least 10,000 steps per day and also to participate in fitness classes. Additionally, the YMCA partnered with Preferred Care in an effort to help older employees improve their health.

The YMCA offers on-site care for children and grandchildren and referral services to help its full- and part-time employees find care for children and grandchildren and eldercare.

Benefits/Alternative Work Arrangements: The YMCA offers the following alternative work arrangements to its full- and part-time employees: flextime, compressed work schedules, job sharing, telecommuting, and a formal phased-retirement program.

The phased-retirement program allows employees the option of reducing their work hours during a one- to three-year period, followed by full retirement, with compensation proportional to workload. Full-time employees are eligible to move to part-time work on a permanent and temporary basis.

Opportunities for Retirees: The YMCA currently has 40 retirees and an employee directly responsible for retiree relations. The organization stays connected with its retirees by communicating regularly, inviting them to organization events and celebrations, providing ongoing access to retirement planning workshops and information, and formally acknowledging retirees when they retire. The YMCA has a formal retiree association that offers activities such as an annual retiree luncheon, a retired men’s club, and a YMCA Active Older Adults Program.

The organization also offers retirees temporary work assignments, consulting and contract work, telecommuting, volunteering, and full- and part-time work.

Age of Workforce: Eighteen percent of the YMCA’s employees are age 50+. The average tenure of employees age 50+ is 10 years.